Stalking victims are to be given a new lifeline after new Government proposals suggest that victims will be allowed to know the identity of abuser, due to “Right to know” statutory guidance.
Currently, victims might not be told the true identity of their stalker, potentially leaving them at risk.
This proposed change is to be put in place to provide more protection to victims of stalking in England & Wales.
Harrowingly, one in five women aged 16 + have been a victim of stalking at least once.
You can read all about this news in this BBC news article
We spoke to Director & Solicitor Rachel Horman-Brown, who is also the chair of Paladin, The UK’s National Stalking Advocacy Service
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I welcome the announcement by the government with regards to additional measures to help stalking victims. These measures were proposed by Paladin and other members of the stalking consortium in conjunction with the London Victims’ Commissioner. It truly is remarkable that some police forces have felt unable to disclose the identity of a victim’s stalker. I do not believe that legally this was ever the case but am pleased that this has been clarified. I have dealt with cases where victims were kept in the dark about who their anonymous stalker was and were left worrying about whether it was their partner or work colleague. As a result they were unable to safeguard themselves which is unacceptable. This shows a focus on perpetrator’s rights rather than those of the victim
The proposals do not however address the main issue which is the failure of the police to investigate allegations of stalking properly or even at all. Until there are robust consequences for failures to do so by the police this will be continue in my view and women will continue to be murdered
